BA Journalism at The Ohio State University

Programme overview

Students attracted to journalism are interested in becoming strong communicators and telling the stories of others. Journalists must be able to gather and interpret information and package and disseminate that information to their audiences. This requires a broad liberal arts education coupled with specific training in the techniques of writing, reporting and editing. In addition, multimedia training is necessary to be competitive in the changing landscape of the field of journalism.

Faculty: Arts and Sciences | Study mode: full-time | Location: Columbus, OH, United States

What you will study

Journalism students complete 32 credit hours in public affairs journalism. Public Affairs Journalism teaches students how to investigate and disseminate news. Students are required to complete courses in reporting, interviewing, news writing and feature writing, as well as more interactive journalism such as blogging, micro blogging, social media and multimedia. Our multimedia focus prepares students to integrate this training with the multimedia skills necessary for packaging news stories with word, still photo, audio, and video.

Career pathways

Students will prepare for a career in public affairs journalism in both traditional and emerging media. Students with a bachelor’s degree in journalism seek employment as multimedia journalists with media organizations, such as news stations, radio, magazines, newspapers and interactive information vendors.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admission to the university (and the Arts and Sciences college where applicable) applies; no separate programme-specific requirement published. Upon admission to the university, students interested in the journalism major typically begin in the pre-major program in the School of Communication. As pre-majors, students complete introductory course work that prepares them to apply to the major.

Domestic applicants: USD 12,921 a year (2026-27). Columbus campus on-campus Instructional Fee (tuition) for students beginning Autumn 2026: $6,460.50 per semester at 12-18 credit hours, shown as two semesters (Autumn and Spring). The Ohio State Tuition Guarantee fixes this rate for four years for Ohio re Source

Entry terms for first-year applicants to the Columbus campus: Autumn 2027 and Spring 2027 (Spring 2027 deadline November 1, 2026). Summer first-year applications are not accepted.

Transfer applicants can start in Spring, Summer or Autumn 2027.

First-year, Columbus campus, Autumn 2027: early action (non-binding) deadline November 1, 2026; regular decision deadline January 15, 2027; financial aid priority date February 1; acceptance fee deadline May 1, 2027. Early action decisions: December 11 (Ohio residents and Stamps Eminence applicants) and January 22 (non-Ohio residents and international applicants); regular decision decisions March 5.

First-year applicants apply with the Common Application. ACT or SAT scores are required for first-year Columbus applicants (superscored; sent directly by the testing agency); applicants out of high school two or more years are not required to submit scores. The essay is not required.

Transfer applicants (Columbus campus): Spring 2027 deadline November 1, 2026; Autumn 2027 deadline March 1, 2027; Summer 2027 deadline May 15, 2027. Regional campuses: December 1, 2026, April 15, 2027 and July 15, 2027 respectively.

International transfer applicants: Spring 2027 deadline October 1, 2026; Autumn 2027 deadline March 1, 2027.

Apply through the official page: https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply

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